Skincare

Jurlique Rose Duo

- Vicki 6 Comments

Jurlique is an Australian brand which was started in 1985 by a husband & wife dedicated to harnessing the power of nature to create incredibly effective products. Their ethos was Nature + Science = Beauty and to this day Jurlique develop high performance skincare, using potent, biodynamic (Biodynamics is a spiritual-ethical-ecological approach to agriculture, food production and nutrition), organic and natural ingredients sourced the world over.

Jurlique have an Organic Farm in the Adelaide Hills of Australia where the magic happens and this was the brain child of the founders Dr Jurgen Klien and his wife Ulrike, a Horticulturist and a Botanist with passion for combining nature with science to deliver natural skincare with long lasting effects. To this day the farm is thriving and its where many of the herbs, flowers and plants are grown for Jurliques products.

Jurlique Rose Scented Products

Jurlique is also a brand with an emphasis on the environment, they are committed to sourcing their ingredients from sustainable fair trade suppliers and use biodegradable & recyclable materials in their packaging. As a brand Jurlique is always helping to support the empowerment of women all over the world with their Ideas Of Beauty Fund which is not for profit, it focuses on supporting ideas that empower and educate women & children globally.

The more I learn about Jurlique the more I’m proud to use their products & support the brand and the work they do in Science, Botany, Horticulture and all aspects of their environmental goals. I have been using Jurlique products for a good 10 years & I love seeing my family & friends discover this brand too. I know its cheesy but this is a brand that isn’t just putting product on our shelves, they are involved in so many worthwhile projects throughout the world. Its so nice to see a brand giving back.

Jurlique Rose Box Set

Jurlique Blooming Roses Gift Set

If you’ve read my blog for a while you will know how much I like using face mists & in particular this Rosewater Balancing Mist so I was very excited to receive it as part of this Blooming Roses Indulgent Collection* alongside the Rose Body Oil, which is a product I have never tried. They come packaged in a beautiful rose illustrated box and is just perfect for a pampering treat.

The Rosewater Balancing Mist comes in a frosted white glass bottle, it feels weighty and luxurious. It’s always within reach on my desk as I like to spray it throughout the day to keep my skin hydrated, soothed and feeling fresh. I know that for many people rose products make them think of old fashioned products aimed at more mature women but that is so not the case with the Jurlique Rose range. It does smell floral but in a fresh and relaxing way not in an overpowering stuffy way. So don’t let yourself overlook this range just because it is Rose based, because it is a very light and perfect for skin that needs soothing.

The 100ml bottle lasts me a couple of months & I use it all the time, so its well worth investing in. The product comes out in a light mist that gently covers your skin & doesn’t spray out like a jet soaking you & giving you the fright of your life (that has happened to me before with quite a few facial toners). I love how it stops my skin from drying out and the rose scent is very uplifting and calming. A few spritz of this throughout the day leaves my skin feeling soft, soothed and hydrated.

  • Marshmallow and glycerin help prevent moisture loss and intensely hydrate and soften skin.
  • Rose and aloe vera soften, sooth and calm the skin.
  • Grapefruit seed extract provides antioxidant protection.

Jurlique Rose Duo

Rose Body Oil, as I said this is a product from Jurlique that I had never tried before. I do like using body oils and the way they hydrate and keep my skin soft especially in the colder months. I have been using this body oil as a treatment for my very dry legs and it has been working wonders. Its light non greasy texture is easy to massage in to the skin, easily absorbed and you need very little product. Its an effective way of really targeting very dry and sensitive skin.

  • Rosemary invigorates, restores and rebalances oiliness.
  • Chamomile and Lavender soothe and restore skin radiance, while Macadamia and Jojoba Oils soften skin.
  • Vitamin E provides antioxidant protection.

So not only is this hydrating and calming but it is soothing and ideal for using in the evening before bed as the sent is so very relaxing. This has been a real treat for me these past few weeks and as the weather gets colder I know my skin is going to feel the benefits.

Let me know what your favourite Jurlique products are & if you have tried either of these products.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Haircare

- Vicki 12 Comments
palmers haircare

Palmers Haircare

I love coconut scented products, they smell like Summer in a bottle and who doesn’t want to be reminded of sunny days & beach holidays? I never knew Palmer’s had a haircare range (where have I been living?), for me, they’re best known for their Cocoa Butter products & I’m a huge fan of this range and in particular, their gradual tanner which is just the perfect tan in a bottle.

So after experiencing great results and quality with their body products, I had high expectations for this Coconut Oil Haircare range, and I’m happy to say it did not disappoint. I have been trying 3 Palmers products from the range.

Palmers Haircare Range

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Conditioning Shampoo* 

This shampoo is great for giving your hair a deep clean without leaving you with that dry stripped feeling, it’s very hydrating and nourishing and of course smelling amazing. This range contains Pure Polynesian Coconut Oil (gives you healthy, strong, glossy hair), vitamin E (to help protect dry ends) and Keratin (smooths hair and tames frizz) so all these wonderful ingredients are going to strengthen your hair & eliminate frizz whilst keeping it glossy and healthy.

It is also gentle enough to be used on colour treated, relaxed, pressed or over styled hair. So if you have damaged locks, this might be a good range for you. My hair is coloured, and I found this didn’t fade my colour at all, but instead left it looking very glossy and manageable.

You also get 400ml of product, which will last months! Also, the coconut scent in all 3 of the products I tried smells natural and not at all synthetic.

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Repairing Conditioner*

Together with the shampoo, this conditioner from the same range is so good at giving your hair that smooth, frizz-free look. I have quite unruly curly hair and this gives my hair body without the frizz, which is exactly what I want. Like the shampoo, this contains Pure Polynesian Coconut Oil, vitamin E, Keratin but this also has Panthenol to help smooth your hair and fight frizz, it works like a dream. It also strengthens and seals hair cuticles.

Palmers recommend leaving this on your hair for 5 minutes to give your hair an intensive treatment, and I like to do that once a week. It leaves my hair feeling silky and soft. It’s a great addition to your Sunday evening pamper session.

Palmers Haircare

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Curl Condition Hair Pudding*

This is a leave-in conditioner/treatment for curly hair, it’s quite an odd texture and feels a little like putting whipped cream in your hair. You apply this product to damp hair from root to end and comb it through. If you have curly hair and want your curls to look bouncy, healthy and eliminate frizz, then this might be the ideal product to add to your hair care routine. I have to say this product works best for me, not applied directly to my roots but more to the lengths of my hair. Otherwise, my hair gets greasy too quickly (I only like to wash my hair every 2 – 3 days).

Like the shampoo and conditioner this contains Coconut Oil & Keratin, but it also has some other great ingredients such as Avocado Oil, Aloe, Shea Butter, Jojoba Seed Oil, Macadamia Seed Oil and Sweet Almond Oil to help tame frizz and keep your curls looking and feeling their best.

What I like about all the products I’ve been trying from this range is that my hair feels stronger and much more manageable. They all work well together, although I don’t use the hair pudding as often as the shampoo and conditioner. So if you have naturally curly, wavy or frizz-prone hair, then you should check out this range and let me know what you think.

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula is Alcohol, Sulphate and Paraben Free & smells AMAZING!

Let me know what haircare you have been loving.

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Haircare Range is available to buy from Amazon

Products that are marked with a * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However, if I do, the reviews are 100% my own. This post also contains affiliate links.

ESPA Optimal Body TriSerum

- Vicki 2 Comments

ESPA TriSerum

The ESPA Optimal TriSerum* is the ultimate luxury for your body, we always spend the money on lotions and potions for our face but often the rest of our body misses out. This offering from ESPA is designed to give you naturally radiant beautiful skin. Also I must say that from the purple packaging through to the serum itself everything feels very luxurious.

ESPA have combined the potent power of a serum with the rich nourishment of Omega Oils (3,6,9), this advanced TriActive™ formula harnesses some of nature’s most effective plant, marine and essential oil extracts to deliver optimal results.

I like that this comes in a beautiful glass bottle with a spray top which makes applying it to your body very easy indeed and It doesn’t spray out too much product at once. So you won’t waste any product. I tend to use this after a bath, I spray it on to my skin focusing on my thighs and décolleté . I use it mostly on those areas because of the skincare benefits such as,

Turmeric Root helps even skin-tone and pigmentation to suffuse skin with youthful radiance, Balloon Plant soothes and calms, whilst Seaweed helps boost firming collagen and elastin for beautifully soft, smooth and supple skin. So you get a whole host of skin benefit from this TriSerum which is so exciting especially as we all spend so much money & time looking after the skin on our face and often our body gets a little overlooked.

Luxurious Body Oil

ESPA

This TriSerum is so much lighter than a body oil and after you’ve massaged it in you’re left with smooth, glowing, beautiful looking skin. It does give your skin a glow but it doesn’t look or feel greasy because it is a serum rather than an oil it sinks in quite quickly and feels very comfortable.

This serum smells incredible & if you’ve tried their Optimal Skin ProSerum then you will be pleased to know this has the same luxurious soothing scent. I love it & would wear the perfume if they sold it.

This is a luxurious pampering product that will also give your skin long lasting benefits that you can see and feel. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying using it and I try to use it sparingly because it is so luxurious so I have been using it more of a targeted treatment on specific areas. You can use this serum in a number of ways,

• Spritz as a quick, light body oil when you are pressed for time or travelling
• Layer beneath your body moisturiser as a targeted treatment
• Use on specific areas of concern as an active targeted boost

ESPA Optimal Body TriSerum £38.00

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

My Holiday Skincare – Amsterdam Edit

- Vicki 8 Comments

At the end of August I spent a week in Amsterdam, its a city I have visited a couple of times before & I just love it there. Its such a beautiful and vibrant city. I thought I would share with you my travel skincare. I must say I was very pleased with myself as I normally over pack & this time I was determined to pack light & take samples and sachets which I had been hoarding for a while now.

First up is my blue and white polka dot Dirty Works wash bag, this was so handy as I was able to hang it up in my hotel bathroom & have easy access to all of my toiletries. It has two small compartments & a much larger one at the bottom with a zip.
Travel Skincare

Skincare for Amsterdam

My Amsterdam Skincare

Travel Skincare

In the top compartment I had:-

Bath & Body Works Hand Sanitiser in Vanilla Berry Sorbet. I never leave home without one of these bottles & once in Amsterdam I transferred it to my handbag.

Essence Makeup Wipes* – I used these as hand wipes & found them very useful. I used all 15 wipes throughout the week

Razor / Tweezers / Hair Bobble & Earbuds – All necessities.

Amsterdam Skincare sample s

In the middle compartment are my sachets & I had been hoarding so many. They’re perfect for holiday.

I took 7 Kleenex Face Cloths instead of my normal muslin cloths as they took up less space and I didn’t have to bring them back in my suitcase. These Kleenex Face Cloths have been discontinued

Estee Lauder Stress Relief Eye Mask – I love using eye masks & these ones are so hydrating and calming. I also took a set of the DHC Revitalising Moisture Strips Eyes – Another pack of eye masks. I like to sleep in these ones, so when I wake up my under eyes look fresh and my concealer doesn’t sink into my fine lines.

Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Sheet Mask – These are so nice after a long day sight seeing and just keep your skin looking plump and hydrated. It’s cooling on the skin and once you take the mask off you can pat in the remaining Hydraluron (don’t want to waste that).

Bio Beaute NUXE – I didn’t need to use this Moisturiser so I have it saved for my next trip

Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica Lightweight Cream – This was a very lightweight moisturiser and it had a velvet finish. It wore very well under my foundation. I’m tempted to purchase the full size of this.

Garnier Ultra Lift Moisturiser – I like how smoothing and hydrating this Garnier cream is. It always makes my skin feel instantly soft.

Amsterdam Skincare Essentials

Garnier Mineral Invisible Deodorant – I normally use a natural deodorant which is in a glass bottle & didn’t want to take that away so bought this Garnier one. It was good but I do prefer to use a natural one & didn’t bring this back home with me.

Palmers Cocoa Butter Natural Bronze Gradual Tanner – LOVE the sun kissed glow this gives. It looks so even and natural. Its one of my favourite discoveries of 2014. I couldn’t go away without it. It helps my legs look 100% better than they usually do.

REN Moroccan Rose Otto Body Lotion – This smells lovely & grown up. It was the perfect size for 7 days & I used it all up in that time.

Skincare Samples

Batiste Dry Shampoo – No one wants greasy hair! I always have a mini can for when I travel. It’s not my favourite dry shampoo but it does a good job.

Tresemme Heat Defence – Just a good lightweight heat protector. Since having my haircut short I do use heat a more often than I used to so I had to bring this with me to stop my hair drying out & I will purchase the full size.

Elemis Revitalise Me Shampoo & Conditioner – These were really nice and hydrating and left my hair feeling nourished and glossy.

Moroccanoil Treatment Oil – This is very nourishing and helps keep frizz at bay. I like how smooth and silky my hair feels after using this.

Travel Skincare

Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth  Face Balm – This is a lovely gentle balm cleanser with tiny granules in so it exfoliates away all the dead skin and leaves your skin feeling very smooth. It also removes every last scrap of makeup so you’re skin feels very clean and fresh. I loved using this each night and will purchase the full size.

Radical Peptide Infused Antioxidant Serum* – I love this serum & it keeps my skin looking glowing and healthy. I save it for special occasions & holiday.

Bioderma – Can we just have a moment for how cute this mini bottle is. I like using this to remove my eye makeup as its gentle and you don’t have to rub at your eye.

Merumaya Treatment Toner* – After a long day sight seeing and being in the elements this helped to keep my skin hydrated, bright and feeling soft. It feels very fresh on the skin and has that recognisable Merumaya scent (which I love).

ESPA Optimal Skin Pro Serum – The only product I used on my face over night & I LOVE this serum so much. If you need to wake up with skin that looks well rested and very healthy then this is the serum for that job. It is like great skin in a bottle. I don’t think I have used a serum / oil that is this nourishing. I only have good things to say about it & could go on all day. I have spoke about it many times on my blog.

Murad Essential C Eye Cream – This wasn’t very gentle & stung my eyes. I have used a couple of other products from this range & really liked them but this eye cream wasn’t a hit for me & after 2 days I stopped using it.

Apivita Face Cream SPF50 – This didn’t break me out & wasn’t too greasy. It was quite thick when I first applied it but after It was massaged in it felt nice on my skin & I like to wear SPF50 on my face. Even though we had mostly rain you can never be too careful.

Let me know if you think I managed to pack light for a weeks holiday. Also let me know what you take away with you.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own